Planning a trip to Malaysia? Malaysia is a popular Southeast Asian destination that is rich in culture, natural landscapes, cuisine, and modern and historical tourist attractions. A variety of experiences packed into one country—tropical islands, skyscrapers, rainforests, and heritage towns—Malaysia offers the perfect but short international vacation. If you’re visiting for the first time, a well-planned Malaysia travel itinerary can help you make the most of your time.
This blog presents a Malaysia itinerary 5 days for Indian travellers, complete with travel tips, tourist landmarks and logistics for a smooth trip.
Getting around in Malaysia
Arrival: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
- Direct flights from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata are available to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The major airports that handle tourist influx are Penang, Langkawi, and Kuching International Airports.
- A direct flight may take around 5 and 6 hours to reach Malaysia from India.
Main Location: Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)
- You can opt for KLIA Express, taxis, or Grab to travel to Kuala Lumpur for your Malaysian stay. It is 57km and may take around 1 hour.
- The best places you can stay in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, are:
- Bukit Bintang: It is a great place for enjoying the colourful nightlife and extensive shopping.
- KLCC (City Centre): This area is close to the Petronas Towers and top Malaysian tourist landmarks.
Transport Options in Malaysia
- Grab App: Grab is nothing but South Asian Uber. It is convenient but affordable ride-hailing service. It saves time and energy to travel long distance in-between cities or places.
- Trains & Monorail: Malaysia has various kinds of rail networks like monorail, airport link rail, urban rail, KTM. If you are looking for exploring the capital’s tourist attractions, you have a metro-like system in Kuala Lumpur (monorail) like any metro Indian city. It is connected to the public train network Rapid Rail. It is fast, efficient and accessible to popular landmarks. KTM connects inter cities and is a national commuter rail network. The Airport link rail connects KLIA to various places across Malaysia.
- Buses: If you are travelling long distance and looking for Volvo type bus, use Aerobus or StarMart Express. If you are looking for exploring Kuala Lumpur free of cost, use GO KL City buses. Buses also serve to cross inter border cities like Singapore. It is budget friendly, efficient and easily available.
- Domestic Flights: Flights are ideal for quick and smooth travel between cities Penang, Langkawi, and Kuala Lumpur.
- Ferries: It is ideal to travel from mainland to various islands like Langwaki and Malaysian beaches.
Malaysia Travel Itinerary: 5-Days
The curated Malaysia travel itinerary covers the must-visit attractions in Malaysia, hidden gems, and local experiences. Perfect for first-time visitors, it ensures you make the most of your time in Malaysia.
Day 1: Kuala Lumpur City Tour
After settling down in Kuala Lumpur, you should go ahead with your mini Kuala Lumpur itinerary in the afternoon by exploring the City Centre attractions and other sites. You have to retire at your KL hotel itself for the night. Malaysia’s capital is a busy city that presents a blend of heritage buildings with modern skyscrapers.
- Sky-high Views at Petronas Towers
Start your morning by visiting the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. The sky bridge and observation deck offer panoramic 360 bird-eye city views. It is known as the tallest twin towers in the world that consists of 88 storeys.
- KLCC Park & Suria KLCC
After roaming the towers, relax in the adjacent KLCC Park- an area which was solely designed to increase beauty and greenery near the towers. Go ahead and shop at Suria KLCC, an upscale mall featuring various local and international brands.
- Explore Merdeka Square & Sultan Abdul Samad Building
This large open square tells us about Malaysian colonial history in one go till independence. The historic attractions at Merdeka Square include the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Royal Selangor Club, and the National Textile Museum.
All these show British colonial architecture. The square exploration can be done free of cost except the 9 pm light and sound show.
- Evening at Jalan Alor
Malaysia is well-known for its street food culture. Enjoy all types of street food at Jalan Alor, where iconic dishes like satay, nasi lemak, and fried noodles are must-try.
Day 2: Cultural Kuala Lumpur trip and Batu Caves
You should kickstart your day with early breakfast to explore the rest of the cultural spots of the capital: A day which will be dedicated to culture and nature. It is perfect for understanding Malaysia’s diversity.You have to retire at your KL hotel itself for the night.
- Temples at Batu Caves
Batu Caves is a must-visit destination due to its unique blend of religious significance, natural beauty, and cultural experiences. These 325m tall limestone caves have a series of temples dedicated to Hindu God, Murugan. You have to climb 272 steps to complete the pilgrimage.
- Muslim Heritage exploration: Islamic Arts Museum & Masjid Negara
The museum showcases Islamic art and artefacts, while Masjid Negara (National Mosque) represents Malaysia’s Muslim heritage that offers welcoming experinece to all its visitors.
The museum houses the largest Islamic art collection in Southeast Asia where entry fee is just Rs. 420. The mosque was created however to commemorate Malaysian independence.
- Man Made Beauties: KL Bird Park & Botanical Gardens
Stroll through Lake Gardens, a recreational park located in the middle of the city and then head towards the KL Bird Park This largest aviary in the world is a home to 3000 species of birds. It is a free-flight walk in aviary. The entry fee is 85 RM for adults and 60 RM for children.
Go ahead with the Pavilion Mall for souvenir shopping, or have dinner at any rooftop restaurant overlooking Kuala Lumpur.
Day 3: Day Trip to Melaka
Please start early as you need to drive 2 hours south from KL in a taxi or rental car for a heritage-filled day in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Melaka. You have to return to Kuala Lumpur for night stay.
- Red Dutch Square
The Dutch Square is well-known for its red-hued, Dutch-era colonial buildings that forms the major part of UNESCO heritage sites at Malacca. The Stadthuys, the Christ church and the queen Victoria lake are the major attractions of this area.
- History at St. Paul’s Hill
Climb up to this old Portuguese fort and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Some major tourist landmarks in the hill are The Church of Saint Paul and A Famosa Fort. The Church is known as a famous Christian religious site till date while you enjoy the blend of Dutch, Malay and Portuguese influences at A Famosa fortress’ architecture.
- Nighttime Marketing at Jonker Street
You stop for a small evening snack at this famous shopping and food area. Explore the street: Try local iconic street snacks, bargain for antique things shopping in Malaysia, and visit small museums.
- Tranquil Melaka River Cruise
In the evening, enjoy a serene river cruise through colourful heritage areas you explore in Melaka day trip.
Day 4: Penang Island’s Heritage Tour
Pack your bags in Kuala Lumpur and take an early flight or bus to Penang Island, the cultural capital of Malaysia. It takes around 4 hours drive or an 1-hour flight to Penang. After landing, go straight for the following sites:
- George Town: Penang’s Capital
The city is described by UNESCO as having a “unique architectural and cultural townscape.” Look around for the unique murals across George Town. It is also a city steeped in modern skyscrapers, shopping places and best street food vendors for your brunch.
- Blue Mansion
Your next stop is to tour this blue-coloured mansion, a symbol of Chinese heritage and luxurious lifestyle. This is just the residence of Cheong Fatt Tze and his descendants. The entry fee is Rs. 420 for a guided tour around the place. It has a hotel, boutiques, rooms, lawn, fountains highlighting elegance and elitist essence.
- History again at Penang Peranakan Museum
The museum is just 5 min away from the Blue Mansion. Here, you learn about the local Baba-Nyonya culture and antiques. It houses collection Peranakan artefacts, collectibles and history in one place.
- Dinner at Gurney Drive
You can sample must-try street dishes like Penang Char Kway Teow, Assam Laksa, and Cendol at this waterfront hawker centre after a day from exploring Penang.
Day 5: Langkawi Island Vibes
End your Malaysia itinerary 5 days with island vibes and beach relaxation in Langkawi. It takes a ferry ride of 40 mins to Langkawi from Penang.
- Fun Pantai Cenang Beach
Swim, sunbathe, or enjoy water sports at the island’s most popular beach.
- Cable car ride on Langkawi Sky Bridge
Ride the steepest cable car in Asia and walk across the Sky Bridge, suspended high above the rainforest.
- Duty-Free Shopping
Langkawi is a duty-free island—perfect for buying chocolates, alcohol, perfumes, and souvenirs at lower prices.
While arranging your Malaysia visa, it’s equally crucial to decide when to travel. The climate and tourist seasons can affect your trip planning, so don’t miss our guide on the best time to visit Malaysia before booking your tickets.
Departure Plans from Malaysia to India
There are direct flights from Kuala Lumpur airport to major Indian cities. You need to stop over at Kuala Lumpur airport if you take a flight from Langkawi to Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Amritsar. It takes around 12 hours if you catch a flight from Langkawi. It is highly recommended to catch a late flight to Kuala Lumpur for smooth journey to India within 6 hours
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